Murder in the church
Caretaker bludgeoned to death
Queenstown – Caretaker of a church killed by bandits at the church.
The caretaker of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church in Queenstown was found dead yesterday morning in the church’s nave with wounds to his face and body.
Dead is George Price, called ‘Bro Price’ 66 whose lifeless body clad in Pajamas and socks, was discovered in the western aisle of the church’s main auditorium.
Stabroek News understands that Price slept in the church and must have confronted person or persons unknown who had broken into the building.
Police were called to Church and Qronoque streets early yesterday morning by parishioners who made the gruesome discovery upon entering the place of worship.
The members had gone to the premises to prepare their monthly report and found what they described as unusual circumstances. From the outside they could see the lights were still on and the doors were locked indicating that something was amiss.
On entering the premises they saw that the church had been broken into causing them to worry about the fate of the caretaker. It was then they discovered Price’s body.
He appeared to have been hit with a blunt object, an official of the church said. A member who preferred to remain anonymous told this newspaper that from preliminary indications the bandits entered the premises from a western stairway leading to the location where the Pathfinders [youth members] hold their meetings.
The person or persons according to the member must have had knowledge of a loose board on the enclosed stairway.
Once inside, the bandits were able to gain access to the main body of the church via a balcony which was accessible by climbing through some bars.
It is believed that it was then that they confronted Price during which a struggle ensued and he was killed. Indications are that Price was dealt several blows to the head and face resulting in some of his teeth being knocked out. He was found lying on his back with his feet towards the main door and his head facing the direction of the altar.
Price’s body wrapped in a body bag, was removed from the church by mortuary attendants shortly after 1 pm. This caused members who had gathered at the church on hearing the news to erupt into loud wails.
Several were overheard commenting on Price’s easy going nature and residents remembered him greeting persons as they passed and his care for the church premises. According to a church official, several attempts had been made to break into the church recently resulting in measures being taken to protect it. This included the installation of security cameras to monitor movements around the building. But these were not functioning at the time of the incident due to a monitor being out of order.
A member recalled that Price had always said that he would go down fighting if robbers ever entered the premises. According to the member although quite old, Brother Price was very agile and would not back down from a confrontation.
Others remembered him as a strict disciplinarian, whose commitment to the church was unwavering. They wondered aloud who could have carried out such a cowardly act especially in the “house of god.”
Up to late yesterday afternoon police were still present at the scene concluding their investigations. Personnel from the police forensics department and crime detectives were seen busy combing both the interior and exterior of the church.
They were seen taking away what appealed to be the stairway board removed by the bandits.
Neighbours in the area recalled hearing noises at around 3:30 am. Price had been resident at the church for several years and was said to be the father of one.
